Richard Gasquet, the 13th seed at the US Open, was the first seed of the championships to crash out as he was defeated 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 by Brit Kyle Edmund on Court 5. Outside of Roland Garros, this was the 21-year-old's first win at a Grand Slam. Up next for the Brit is American Ernesto Escobedo

Edmund starts on fire

On a hot day at Flushing Meadows, Kyle Edmund got off to a great start. Having both held comfortably to start the match, the 21-year-old took advantage of an uninspired and fatigued looking Gasquet. In the fourth game, the 84th-ranked player in the world showed great footwork which then allowed him to utilise his forehand as he struck one down the line to set up a break point opportunity at 15-40. In the next point, Edmund broke and for a 3-1 lead. The South African-born Brit fired three aces en route to consolidating the break and going 4-1 up.

Kyle Edmund retuning a shot (Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
Kyle Edmund retuning a shot (Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)

The Frenchman, who had been struggling for fitness and form managed to hold his serve, was looking troubled by the aggressive play from his young opponent and couldn't keep up. The Brit held his own serve and was just a game away from the first set. With the 29-year-old serving for the set, Edmund forced the unforced error from Gasquet at 30-40 to bring up a set point. The youngster won the next point and bagged the first set 6-2. 

Edmund wins the second set

Having won the opening set, Kyle Edmund was serving first in the second and had the chance on serve to stay ahead and pressure the 29-year-old. The Frenchman managed to stay in touch with the 21-year-old until the sixth game. At 30-30, Edmund fired another aggressive forehand to which Gasquet couldn't deal with and he shanked the forehand. The Brit broke and just like the first, he had taken the break and gone ahead.

He consolidated the break and the Frenchman was looking in trouble and was finding no way of dealing with the fiery and aggressive play from Edmund. Gasquet managed to hold his serve this time unlike in the first set and gave Edmund the chance to go two sets up. Edmund fired another forehand winner and set up triple match points which he managed to take at the first time of asking with a return winner. The 21-year-old had taken all his break points thus far in the match.

Edmund comes from a set down, takes out 13th seed and books spot in round two

Richard Gasquet came into the third set looking like a new player. With the score at 15-40, the Frenchman attacked Edmund's serve and got his reward when he put away a forehand volley at the net. The 15th-ranked player in the world then went on to consolidate his break as he led 3-1. The good start made by the seeded player was soon to evaporate as the Brit gained control and after holding himself, he pushed Gasquet to deuce before acquiring a break point at advantage. Gasquet managed to save his first break point of the match, but Edmund managed to fashion another break point chance following a double fault from his French opponent.

Kyle Edmund hitting a shot to Richard Gasquet (Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
Kyle Edmund hitting a shot to Richard Gasquet (Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images

The very next point produced an outstanding shot from Edmund. After Gasquet hit a backhand shot out wide, Edmund ran it down, hit a forehand pass, which caught the line and broke to level at 3-3. The momentum which shifted briefly to Gasquet was soon with Edmund. In the eighth game, he managed to fashion a break point chance at 15-40, which he took in emphatic style. The 21-year-old was now serving for an unlikely victory at 5-3. The Brit wrong-footed the Frenchman and hit a forehand winner to set up two match points. After having to reply the point, Edmund fired an ace and ended the match to book his spot in the second round with a stunning victory over the 13th-seeded Frenchman.

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